In regards to the current updates of the National Electrical Code (NEC) the 18 bodies that serves as code-making panels are making the updates in certain regulations. The National Electrical Code (NEC) was published by the the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) together with valuable insights and inputs across different concerned and related organizations. In these organizations, NEMA was one of them. The entire body has reviewed 3,730 public inputs since January 2018. The meetings have recently resulted to 1,406 changes together with the first revisions. Some part of the initial revisions that taken place could bring a significant changes and improvements in the advancements of electrical safety concerning the build environment. With these changes in mind, it will now go through the screening of NFPA’s concerned processes.
The Regulations and Revisions including this are:
- Ground Fault Protection
The Section included in the 210.8(A) in the 2017 NEC states that it is a requirement for a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to have a holistic protection for 15-20 amp 125V receptacles that were installed in some of the locations that are being specified in (A) (1) to (10). Some of the proposed changes in this would make GFCI protection on all 125 V through 250 V receptacles. This is because there are numerous instances and scenarios where the individuals that had electrocution while having contact or interacting with 250V receptacles across all range outlets and dryers.
- Surge Protection Existing in Dwelling Units
The latest proposed requirements for all 230.67(A) equipment should be required that their surge protective devices or (SPDs) should have installation across all existing unites for dwelling service panels. This should serve as a protective barrier for the electronics and other safety device that are installed inside some of the residential structures.
- Disconnection for Emergencies
The latest proposition for the 230.85 requirement would require all the existing dwelling electrical units to give provision for the emergency disconnection of installed equipment in case of emergency at a readily and easy accessible location. This proposition was given and accepted because of what was given by the first-responder organization concerned. This will eventually help in protecting the firefighters that can bring them harm because of a possible arcing event if they will choose to go back to the removal of electrical meter whilst under a possible load.
In conclusion, these code-making panel’s main task groups discussed the 1,932 public comments that coming directly from consumers submitted because in response to the panel’s action passed last January. In overall, the meetings conducted by the code-making panels are being scheduled to take place from October 21 to November 3,2018.